Flooding can destroy property and have serious effects on human health. And it can follow patterns of housing discrimination from almost a century ago. Ghost streams are waterways that were filled in or covered up during city development, and they’re a contributing factor to flooding events.
Many ghost streams are underneath historically redlined neighborhoods. Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood is one example. It was built on top of marshland and has a history of experiencing flooding after heavy storms.
BridgeDetroit environmental reporter Jena Brooker spoke with researchers and Detroit residents to explore how hidden waterways impact the lives of Detroiters.
This segment is part of The Checkup: Water and Human Health in a Changing Climate, a project of the Great Lakes News Collaborative.
Catch more news at Great Lakes Now:
Climate costs imperil Detroit’s unique, diverse Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood
A Community-Led Approach To Stopping Flooding Expands
Featured image: A look at the invisible buried rivers that flow beneath our feet. (Photo Credit: Great Lakes Now)
